Back down on anti-discrimination laws

Legal groups have welcomed the federal government’s decision to rethink controversial aspects of proposed anti-discrimination legislation that may have unduly curtailed freedom of speech.

Law Council of Australia president Joseph Catanziriti said it was a worthy aim to merge five separate acts dealing with discrimination into one. But he said the drafting of provisions that made unlawful comments that offended, insulted or intimidated was uncertain and could have infringed on the freedom of expression.

These provisions had sustained continual attack by some members of the legal profession and the media since the draft bill was sent to a Senate committee for review.

Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon announced yesterday that she had asked her department to “develop alternative drafting for the sections of the draft bill that have raised freedom of speech concerns".

Australian Lawyers Alliance president Tony Kerin said the controversial provisions would have “placed an unnecessary chill on public debate" and their revision was a welcome step.